Learning to live with chronic pain and illness gracefully

Enjoying Winter

It’s funny, but moving 900 miles south really hasn’t changed my winter experience very much. While I certainly miss the joy of watching snowflakes gently falling outside my window, I *definitely* don’t miss slogging through knee-deep snowbanks to wait for a crowded bus! But North or South, my favourite winter-time activity remains the same.

You see, my secret is: I’m a snuggler.

There are few things in this world that make me happier than cuddling up under a warm blanket with a purring cat in my lap, a book in my hand, and a hot drink to sip. We don’t get too many days of brisk weather in Florida (it went down into the 30’s last night!) and I feel that I have to milk all the fuzzy socks/silly slippers/comforting sweaters out of the season that I can.

I love hats and jackets and scarves and gloves. I love a wood fire (sadly, we do not have a fireplace in the new house *le sigh*). Hot chocolate with cinnamon is just the thing on a cold day, and mulled cider makes the house smell lovely to boot!

Living outside of New York City in my 1920’s walkup, I had a fantastic view of the NYC skyline, but all those windows and my 9′ ceilings meant chilly winters. I would warm my apartment by cooking gingerbread cakes and cookies, or melt chocolate for truffles and fudge for holiday gifts.

But is snuggling up in cold weather really my favourite thing about winter? That’s a tough call, because the other wonderful thing about winter is the holidays. I am fortunate to be able to spend time with my family year-round. Maybe we don’t get to visit as often as we like (we’re a spread-out clan), but the holidays are not quite so much FAMILY for us as they are for some.

However, holiday lights? *bliss!*

Our next door neighbour had white lights in her dogwood tree, right outside the window of the bedroom my sister and I shared until I was 14. She would turn on the lights all year round, and having those twinkling white lights on a summer’s evening was magical.

For the rest of us, however, the lights usually only go up and on at the holidays, so that is when I get to enjoy them. I’m not a huge fan of elaborate lights shows synchronised to music, but the houses decorated tastefully make my heart happy.

Right I am enjoying our neighbour’s tree. They have a large tree decorated with white lights that shines across our pond at night. It may not be snowing outside the window, but it still captures the season for me as I snuggle under a blanket and sip my cider.

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4 Responses

I would leave my lights up all year if the Joe-Man would let me. My college son has white Christmas all over his bedroom at school. What a way to sleep! I wish my kitty would snuggle up with me on the couch…she is too aloof. My dog is too feisty to sit still and snuggle. I think I need some hot chocolate after reading this.
mo

I LOVE Christmas lights. I used to decorate everything that would hold still back before fibro. Now I don’t decorate at all, but the roomies decorate the front yard and the main house, so I get to enjoy it without having to do the work.